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Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information Contact:
Gina Plotino, Director of Communications
201.291.4054
gplotino@bergenunitedway.org
BREATHING EASIER: BERGEN COUNTY'S UNITED WAY LAUNCHES COOL HOMES PROGRAM
Friday, June 26, 2009 - BERGEN COUNTY - The warm weather is only just starting but Bergen County's United Way knows that summer heat can be deadly. To help cope with the hot, humid days to come, BCUW has launched its "Cool Homes" program and is providing window air conditioner units to low-income residents of the county whose health and well-being may be adversely affected by the scorching heat and oppressive humidity characteristic of New Jersey summers. For people "at risk," high temperatures are a known cause of serious health complications and even premature death. The very young, frail elderly and those with chronic diseases suffer when the thermostat reaches record temperatures. Increased hospital admissions and more emergency room visits are common.
Generous gifts and product donations have come from businesses big and small including Bogota Savings Bank, Freedom Bank, Lowes, Oritani Bank Charitable Foundation, the Franciscan Community Development Center, Stadium Home Appliances, and Anthony Francos Pizzeria in Paramus.
"Bogota Savings Bank has a 116 year history in this community and while we are a strong financial institution, we are not so big that we have lost touch with the compelling needs of the employees and customers who live and work here," said Diane Scriveri, Executive Vice President. "Cool Homes is improving health outcomes for our most vulnerable neighbors - young and old. We are proud to be a local supporter of this vital initiative."
"We are grateful to the companies that have joined us in this effort. Their inspired leadership and generosity is helping people in very direct and concrete ways," said Tom Toronto, President of Bergen County's United Way. "The cooler weather this spring has given us the chance to get ahead of the problem and be ready when temperatures spike. I ask that when the weather changes, we all take a moment to check on elderly and sick relatives and neighbors to see if they need help taking proper heat precautions, or if they need medical attention because of the heat. I encourage anyone whose health is at risk and would benefit from the Cool Homes Program to please call 2-1-1. Experienced and caring call specialists are on the other end of the helpline."
If you are a community minded individual or business, and would like to join in this effort, please call Jill Donitz at 201.291.0650, email her at jdonitz@bergenunitedway.org, or visit www.bergenunitedway.org. You too can make a difference in our Bergen County community.
Bergen County's United Way is a community service agency that provides assistance to individuals in crisis through its 2-1-1 helpline and organizes preventative and long term solutions to community wide issues such as affordable housing and ending chronic homelessness. Bergen County's United Way helps people, 24 hours a day, everyday, wherever help is needed; fulfilling its mission by providing direct services to the most vulnerable residents in our community and by developing programs and financial resources to address unmet needs. For more information, visit www.bergenunitedway.org.
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Right click on this image to download Hi Res - 3072 x 2304 sized photo for print..
Photo Caption: Oritani Bank makes a $2,500 donation to the United Way Cool Homes Program
so that those with serious health problems can breathe a little easier this summer.
Pictured are: Mike De Bernardi, Executive Vice President, Phil Wyks,
Senior Vice President from the Washington Township branch of Oritani Bank
and Jill Donitz, Bergen County's United Way
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